Bottle carrier



Dec. 21, 1954 p J BURKE ETAL 2,697,628

BOTTLE CARRIER Filed Oct. 12, 1950 INVENTORS PETER J. BURKE By CLARENCE,LIETZAU MXM United States Patent BOTTLE CARRIER Peter J. Burke andClarence Lietzau, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application October 12, 1950, Serial No. 189,868

4 Claims. (Cl. 29'487.26)

Our invention relates to bottle carriers, and more particularly tocarriers for conveying a plurality of milk bottles or the like.

The object of our invention is to provide a means for clamping the neckportions of a single bottle or a plurality of bottles, and having theweight of the load retain the device in a clamped position.

Another object of our invention is to provide a device that may bemanipulated with one hand, without the necessity of placing theindividual clamping portions into a predetermined position.

A further object of our invention is to provide a device constructed ofa plurality of individual parts assembled in a manner whereby thecomponent parts cannot become disengaged from one another.

A still further object of our invention is to provide a large-sized milkbottles or the like, that the weight of the bottles, together with thecumbersome shape and contour of the bottles, constitute a difiicultconveying problem. The device as specified, illustrated and claimedherein affords a simple, convenient and eflicient means of supportingeither a single bottle or a plurality of bottles. It is easy tomanipulate, inexpensive to manufacture and folds into a compact, neatunit when not In use.

Other and further objects of our invention will become more apparent asthe description proceeds when taken in conjunction with the drawings inwhich:

Figure 1 is a side view of the assembled device supporting two bottles,a portion of which is shown in phantom.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the assembled device in a clamped position,with a portion of the handle cut away.

Figure 3 is an end view of the assembled device taken at the line 33 inFigure 2.

Figure 4 is a top or plan view of the assembled device in an openposition showing the handle portion folded downward in parallel relationto the clamping members.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view as taken at the line 5-5 in Figure 2showing the handle raised into a clamping position.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the device with the handle portionin a lowered position taken at the line 6-6 in Figure 4, and

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the device taken at the line 7-7in Figure 2.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views, and referring now to the same, the characters 10 and11 show clamping members formed from wire into a plurality ofsemi-circular portions integrally joined by straight portions shown asThese straight portions have flatsurfaces shown as 13 at their top andbottom so that they may engage the links 14 which are shown with anaperture 15, and an elongated slot 16. This aperture 15 and the slot 16are separated by inwardly projecting members shown as 17. Thus theclamping unit 11 supports the links 14 within the aperture 15, and holdsthem in a fixed position, while the clamping member 10 slides within theelongated slot 16 forming a part of the link 14.

There is a handle 18 consisting of two members extending parallel to oneanother, and joined by a grip portion 19 which is shown as an integralpart of the handle p 2,697,628 Patented Dec. 21, 1954 structure, andextends in transverse relation to the handle members.

The handle members are provided with a triangular slot shown as 20 whichis wider at its lower end, and of a width to support the flat straightportions 12 of the clamping members 10 and 11. One inner edge of theslot 20, at the wide side thereof is shown provided with an inwardlyextending member 21.

Obviously, the contour of the semi-circular portions of the clampmembers 10 and 11 are of a size to encircle the outer periphery of theneck portions of a milk bottle or the like shown in phantom as 22 inFigure 1.

In operation, the clamping portions 10 and 11 are spread apart as shownin Figures 4 and 6, with the handle 18 in a horizontal position as shownin these Figures 4 and 6. This will permit their engagement over theneck portion of the bottles 22. The distance of their separation isdetermined by the length of the slot 16 in the links 14. The links 14,being held securely by the member 111, iegrmit the members 12 toslidably move within the s ot When the handle 18 is raised, thetriangular slot 20 will cause the clamping members 10 and 11 to bebrought toward one another as shown in Figures 2 and 5, thereby clampingthe neck portion of the bottles 22, and retaining them in a clampedposition when the bottles are lifted from the surface on which they aresupported. The weight of the bottles, whether empty or full, will retainthe handle 18 in a raised position, thereby retaining the handles 10 and11 in a clamped position around the outer perpiheral surface of thebottles 22.

From the above description, it will become manifest that the device isoperative, to perform the function for which it is intended. It may,however, be changed in form or contour, and we reserve the rights tomake such changes without departing from the spirit of our invention orthe scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent 'in the United States is:

l. A device of the character described in combination with a pair ofclamping members, a pair of link members, one of said clamping membersacting as a support for link members rigidly attached thereto, said linkmembers provided with elongated slots, the other of said clampingmembers slidably supported within the slots of said link members, ahandle engaging said clamp members, said handle comprising a pair ofarms integrally constructed with a grip portion, each of said armsprovided with triangular slots, each of which is wide at one end andtapered inwardly toward its other end, both of said clamping membersengaging said slots, the movements of said grip portion causing amovement of said clamping members toward and away from one another bychanging the angular position of the handle in its relation to saidclamping members.

2. A bottle carrier of the character described to be used in combinationwith bottles to be transported, said device comprising in combination, ahandle having a pair of support members, said handle having a gripportion supporting said support members, said grip portions on saidhandle each equipped with a slot wider at its lower portion and taperedinwardly and upwardly therefrom, a pair of clamping members, saidclamping members formed to encircle the neck portion of a plurality ofbottles, said clamping members engaging the slots in said handle supportmembers, and a plurality of link members, said link members rigidlyattached at one end to one of said clamping members, an elongated slotdisposed within each of said link members, the other of said clampingmembers engaging said slots in said links thereby permitting saidclamping member to be brought away from and toward one another by theangular position of said handle.

3. A device of the character described comprising, a pair of clampmembers, a pair of link members, each one of said link members attachedat one end to one of said clamp members, the other end of said linkmembers slidably supporting the oppositely disposed clamp member, ahandle engaging said clamp members, said handle consisting of a gripportion and a pair of angularly disposed support members, said supportmembers each provided with an elongated slot wider at its end, saidclamping members engaging said slots thereby permitting said clampingmembers to be spread apart from one another within said slots when saidhandle is in one position, and

held securely in contact with one another when the said 5 handle is inanother position.

4. A device of the character described comprising in combination, a pairof clamp members, a plurality of slide members, one of said clampmembers having the sliding members rigidly attached thereto, the otherof 10 said clamp members slidably engaging said slide members, a handleengaging said clamp members, said handle comprising a pair of arms heldin parallel relation to one another by a grip portion, each of said armsprovided with a triangular shaped slot wider atone end, said clampmembers engaging said slots in said arms, thereby bringing said clampingmembers toward and away from one another when changing the angularposition of the handle in Its relation to said clamp members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

